fredag, juni 22, 2012

Midsummer in Sweden

Midsummer day simply refers to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening.The exact dates vary between different cultures.Midsummer is especially important in the cultures of Scandinavia.MidsummerA night full of magicMidsummer night is full of magic. According to folklore was all that was growing in the wild loaded with supernatural powers in midsummer. By collecting the powerful magic of a wreath of flowers they had funds for the coming year. Saving the wreath and put it in julbadet was a way to become healthy and strong for the remainder of the winter.

The light turns the nightMidsummer Eve is the highlight of the summer half-year celebrations. It is now the light night turns and it's time to party and dance, romance and eroticism - hopefully the sun and heat. An old saying says that midsummer night is not long but put seven and seventy cradles running.

Mankind has since time immemorial been able to determine when the summersolstice occurs.To mark the days did you probably also special rites to the sun and the gods.

Always on a FridayMidsummer celebration is a tradition in the north. Although it is difficult to find historical facts about the day. The oldest written sources are the Icelandic Kingdomtales from the 1200s, where we can read the following about Olaf Tryggvason: He abolished sacrifice beer and put in place with the people's assent högtidsöl at Christmas, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas. The beer was already the great party drink. In Sweden it is now drinking more beer at midsummer than at any other festival. The term drinking Johannisöl related to John Day, which in turn refers to John the Baptist's birthday on June 24. The day before, on June 23, was until 1952 Midsummer. In order to better fit into the work week, were determined in 1953 that Midsummer Eve always be celebrated on a Friday and the weekend is now moving between 20 and 26 June.

MidsommareldIn Olaus Magnus story of the Nordic peoples from 1555 tells us that at St. John the Baptist's evening ... accustomed to all people without distinction of gender and age gather in crowds on the city square or in the open field, there to blithely stringing dance by the light of numerous fires, as everywhere light up. It tells about midsummer fires, as we have continued to light late in the 1900's. The tradition waned gradually, to the present-day local fire bans go out for good. Midsummer Fires still occur in Finland, Norway and Denmark and also in some places on the continent.

Maypole, dance and gamesMaypole was a new custom that probably came to Sweden from Germany sometime in the late Middle Ages. The maja means to decorate with green and have plat German origin. The earliest depictions of maypoles we find in Eric Dahlberg, Suecia Antiqua published in the 1600s. Majstängerna which does not resemble today's most common type of crosses and wreaths. Instead, hang the big wreaths around a pole.

The dancing and the games are old feature of midsummer celebration and was a way for youngsters to get to know each other closer. And it was then, as now, go hot. How to report-was updated from Birch Eating in Västergörland 1689: became förbudit to uppsättia Midsummer poles, it elacka lefwernet that youth der wid wont to use, may förbådas and abolished.

To pick seven different flowers ...In the old magical thinking was midsummer night full of both essence and various forces that could at any time intervene in our world. But people could also make use of these powers by collecting medicinal herbs and a way to keephealthy and strong during the next year was that naked roll in the midsummer dew.

At all important crossings when the light turned, it was important that certain tasks would be completed. The timing was also good if you wanted to see into the future. So it was at Michaelmas in the fall, Christmas in the winter and at the Annunciation in the spring.

One way of predict the future still existing, is to pick seven or nine different flowersto put under the pillow on midsummer night. In the dream, do you get to see itone should live his life with.

Another custom is to go to a spring to drink the waters, sacrifice a coin or in its waters to see into the future. The advance had cleared the source and decorated throughout with a layer of pine boughs, which is also a good idea to sit on. Sometimes it was festive and the young people danced the night away until it was time to go to church the next day.